Game apparatus



0v. E2, 1929. H, H, Rls'row GAME APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 14, 1928 I INVENTOR Herberl'HR z'sgfiow;

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 12, 1929 Umrrco s'rA -mse a nx srow, or LA cnossn, wrsconsm em urm'rus Application filed Iebruary 14, 1928, Serial No. 254,227. lenewed i eptember 17, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in 7 game apparatus generally, and has for its principal object to provide for a type of such apparatus for the laying of the game of golf indoors under 51c same rules governing the playing of the game on an Outdoor course, and wherem general features of an outdoor game, including putting greens, hazards, tees, and other features of an ordinary golf course are simulated, as well as the varlous kinds of good, bad and indiiferent drives of a ball in play will be characterized and experienced.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a game device as hereinbeforementioned, and one which is simple and inexpensivel constituted in a board, card or sheet on whic is gra hically laid off or de icted a 3 straight line, extending centrally between the divergent and convergent lines, indicative of a middle or straight drive off of a ball from a tee, the character of each successive play of the participants in a game being determined by certain chance-controlled indicating devices, which are representative of the several different kinds of clubs usually employed at different stages of play on a regular outdoor course.

-'With the foregoing and other equally important objects in view, the invention resides in the certain new and useful construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter, more fully described, set forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

I The figure shown is a top plan view of a practical embodiment of the game apparatus. Referring to the drawing, the practical em- 5 bodiment of the game apparatus, as shown therein comprises a body 16, which is preferably o rectangular form, and made from any suitable material, such as heavy cardboard, apier-mach, metal, wood, or the hke. e upper or playing face or surface of the body 16 is preferably divided by, a transversely extending line 17 to separate a space of-major area on which a olf links or course depicted or simulated, rom a space of much less area to be occupied by the chance-controlled devices designated 18, 19, 20 21, 22 and 23, and to be hereinafter more fully described.

In the present instance of the invention a nine-hole }golf course is depicted or simulated on t e surface of the larger space at one side of the division line 17 and, as shown, each hole is designated by a iiagbearing the numbers 1 to 9 inclusive, in thevsequence of' their disposition from the place of beginning to the place of ending'the play. The several holes are preferably located in rectangular spaces designated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6*, 79, 8 and 9, respectively, called putting greens, and associated with each of these greens, and just outside of the bounds thereof, are certain simulated hazards, such as sand traps, bunkers or the like, desggnated 1 2, 3, if, 5 6", 7 8 and 9". paced at varying distances in the general line of play on the several holes are rectangular spaces simulatmg teeing grounds designated 1, 2, 3, 4,- 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, respectively, the intermediate of which are located in proximity to the immediately preceding hole and putting green.

To determine the range and direction of drives of a ball in play etween each teeing ground andthe putting greens and holes with which they are directly associated, a straight-line 11, simulating what is known as the fairway is extended from the approximate center of each of the teeing grounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to the center of the adjacent edge of the rectangles forming or simulating the putting greelrxls 1", 2", 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 8 and 9; while to t e leading from the point of beginning of the left and right hand sides'of each of I these straight lines or f i w 11, gnaw,

20 "connectpoints or-dots on the straight line or latter from, each of the teeing groundsin the outward direction of play are divergent lines 12 and 13, which are extended ,for a distance less than the total length of the straight lines or fairways 11. The. left-' hand divergent lines 12 are indicative of the approximate direction of a hook drive, of a ball in play, and the right hand divergent lines 13 of a slice drive thereof. Each of the several lines 11, 12 and 13 are provided with spaced points or dots, each designated in yards distant from the point of teeingthe ball in play on the teeing grounds 1, 233, 4, 5, '6, 7 8 and 9. Connecting the divergent hook and slice lines 12 and 13, beginning with the several points or dots thereon of least d-istance from the associated teeing "oundare, and in the sequence of their outward progression, a series of converging lines 12 "and 13respectively, which lead to and fairway-11 further removed from the teeing grounds, and these lines are indicative of drives'ona ball in play to bring the same 1 back ontothe fairway after an initial hook. or slice drive. In addition to the hazards 1*,2", 3", 4 5", 6", 7 8 'a'nd19l, other hazards, such as water courses and the like and 10, maybe depicted or otherwise simulated on the playing surface.

Arranged in the smaller space at the side of the division line 17 opposite to the major space on which thegolfcourse is laid out or simulated, and in transverse alinement one with respect to the other, are a series of chance-controlled devices 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, designated respectively by the names given to certain of the clubs used for efi'ecting different plays or drives on a ball, as, for instance, Driver, Brassie, Mid-Iron, Mashie, Putter and Niblick. Each of these devices consists of an indicating chart of circular formation, and that of the indicating 'device'18 is preferably dividedinto twoconcentrie spaces,,which, in turn, are

divided into a plurality of segmental spaces by means of a desired number of diametrically extending lines. Certain of these diametric lines, however, are only extended to the circular line forming the boundary of the inner circular space, while the other of such lines are projected to the line forming the outer edge of the chart in equi-distantly spaced relation. Each of the outer spaces have indicated therein various distances of the drive of a ball in play, while each of the inner spaces are designated with letters identifying the character of the drive of a ball, as, forinstance, the letter H for a hook drive; the letter M for a middle drive, i. e. the direction of the ball along the straight line or fairway 11; and the letter S for a slice drive of the ball. The indicator chart 19 consists of a circular space divided by a plurality of diametrically extending lines into a number of segmental spaces, which are variously marked for different distances of the drive of a ball in play, corresponding to those dis-- tances usually obtained in the use of a brassie type of club on a regular'golf course. The indicating charts of the several devices 20, 21 and 22 are similarly shaped and divided into segmental spaces corresponding to the shape of the chart 19 and thespaces thereof.

. The segmental spaces of the indicating chart 20, are, however, alsogivendistance values of drive of they mid-iron type of club, which are of equal or less value than the lower of the distance values given in the chart of the device'19. The spaces of the indicating chart of the device 21 are variously marked and alternately so for certain positions of the ball in-play, and correspondingly to these positions of the ball ordinarily obtaining in the use of the mashie type of golf club. The indicating chart of the device 22has its several segmental spaces indicated for certain positions of a ball in play, when at putting green has been reached, and which are u'sually effected in the use of the putter type of golf club. The indicating chart of the device 23 is also of circular formation, but is quartered by diagonally extending lines to provide four segmental spaces, which are indicated for certain plays of a ballwhena niblick type of golfclub is in use.. Each of the several indicatin devices 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and i 23 are provi ed with spinning arrows or;

pointers. 18', 19', 20, 21', 22' and 23, which are pivoted at the centers of the circles defining the several charts, and these arrows or pointers are to be selectively spun by the players of the game, and correspondingly for the partlcular types of golf clubs, which would be employed to effect a given play as it would be made on a regular golf course.

In the use of the game apparatus, as thus off from each of the several'teeing grounds of a course of a 'ven number of holes. Hence, the first of file players of the game,- in the present instance, would spin the arrow or pointer of the indicating device 18, which, when coming to rest would indicate the character of the drive made. Considering that the first player has spun the arrow of the indicating device 18, and that the pointer has come to rest at one of the inner segmental spaces of the indicator chart marked M, and at the outer space designated to indicate a drive of 200 yards, the player,

would determine the position of the ball to beat the 200 yard point or dot on the middle straight line 11, which corresponds to the fairwa on anactual golf course. After the first o the layers has so determined and effected the p ay and determined the position of his ball as aforesaid, the remaining players would similarly complete their initial play in the order of their selection. In the event of the arrow or pointer 18' of the indicating device 18 coming to rest in a space designated by the letter H, and pointing to an outer s ace marked for a distance of 200 yards, this would indicate that the'ball, in actual play had been struck in a manner that it would hook or curve in a direction to the left-hand side of the layer, or of the fairway 11, in which case the 200 yard point or position of'the ball would be located at the200 yard point or dot on the diverging line 12. Similarly, if the pointer 18' came to rest ina space marked S, and in" line with the outer space indicated fora 200 yard drive, this would characterize a sliced drive, wherein the ball would be curved in a direction to the-right-hand side of the fairway. 11, and consequently the osition of the ball would be determined to e at the 200 yard mark on the divergent line 13. If, in the initial play from a teeing ground has determined a hooked or a sliced drive of the ball,

purpose,

by a'particular player, that player in his vnext turn to play would then endeavor to get back on the fairway 11, and,'for this would in all robability make use of a brassie or a m1d-iron'type of club in an actual game, hence, he will efiect the next play by selecting either the indlca'tlng device 19 or the indicating device 20 for 1118 next play with the apparatus. Now, considering that a brassle would be the ne rt type of club to be used, the player will spin the arrow or pointer 19' of the 1nd1cat1ng device 19, and, if the arrow or pointer stopped at the space marked, for instance, 100 yards, the player would then locate the simulated position of the ball along the converging 12 or 13', leading from the 200 yard points or dots on the left or righthanded diver ent lines 12 or 13, as the case may be, and t en if the distance to the connected point 'or dot on the middle lme or fairway 11 were not equal to the indicated distance of the drive, the remainder of such distance would be'determined by locating a proper point or dot on the latter line or fairway, in the direction toward the putting green at the end of the fairway of the particular hole being played. However, if the teeing drive has been indicated by M,'the simulated position of the ball would then'be at the 200 yard mark on the middle line Br fairway 11, and the subsequent drive of the ball for 100 yards, bythe useof the brassie or mid-iron indicators this distance. would be determined from the 200 yard mark from the line r fairway 11 toward the putting green at theend thereof. In the latter case, the simulated position of the ball would now beat the 300 yard point or dot on the middle line or fairway 11, and, the, player' having reached this point would, in his proper turn of play, now select the mashie indicator21,

and spin the samein an endeavor to put the ball on the putting green 1, and as near the hole 1 as possible, or to even-put ball into" the hole. In spinning the arrow or pointer 21', if it stops at the space marked holed, it would be considered that the ball had been the ball on the green or into the hole. Again,

it the pointer 21 stopped at one of the spaces indicated sand trap, a further play would a have to be made on the ball from a position at one of the indicated sand traps just outside of the boundaries of the putting green. For this latter purpose, the player would, without doubt, make use of the niblick indicator, and upon spinning the arrow or pointer23', i f-the samev stop ed at a spacemarked on green, it would signify that the I drive from the sand trap had been successful, and that the/ball was now in proper position to be holed. A ain, if the arrow or pointer 23' stopped at t e space indicated dub try again, this would possibly indicate thatthe attempted drive from thelsand trap had been unsuccessful, and that the player must makeanother stroke at the ball, which would be simulated by again spinning the arrow or pointer of t is particular indicating device. If, however, the arrow or pointer 23' stopped at the space indicated long, it would indicate that the ball had been successfully driven from the sand trap, but that it had over-shot the putting green, when the player, in his next turn of pla might have to again select .the mid-iron in icator 20 or the mashie indicator 21 in an endeavor to put the ball on the putting green or into the hole of that particular putting green. Having put tlhe all on the putting green,-the final play on the hole of the partlcular uttinggreen being played, the player would now resort to the putter indicator 22, and complete such play in one or morestrokes on the ball as might ,be necessaryin accordance with the several markings on' the spaces on the indicator chart 22.

In accordance with the rules laid down for the game of golf, each layer, in turn,

' endeavors to drive his ball rom the tee on or as near as possible to the strokes player holin his ball 1n the fewest number' putting green, and to put it into the hole a particular putting een with the smallest number of i om the place of teeing off. The

- hole until the full nine or ei hteen holes, as

the case may be, havebeen p ayed, eighteen holes being the usual number of a standard golf course. The player who wins the greatest number of holes wins the match, but if they both win the same number of holes the match is-halved or drawn. The game is also played by counting the aggregate number of strokes it takes to pla the entire course, and this play is called medal play, in d1s tinction to the first-mentloned method of play, which is termed match play.

- Without further descriptlon, t 1s thought that the features and advantages of the mventionwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and'it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction *may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a game apparatus, a body havmg a simulated golf course on the upper surface thereof and having certain of the teeing grounds and their associated putting greens connected by a plurality of directionjlines having a plurality of marks spaced along the same designated for different lengths of drive of a ball in play, the marks on the outer of the said lines being connected by other direction lines converging toward and connecting certain of the marksof a greater length of drive on the intermediate of the same lines, and chance-controlled devices for determining the character and distance of each simulated drive of the ball.

T2. In a game apparatus, a body having a simulated golf course on the upper surface thereof and having certain of the teeing grounds and their associated putting greens' directly connected by straight directlon lines and oppositely disposed divergent direction lines extendin from the teeing grounds to- Ward the putting greens for an appreciable length of the distance between each teeing ground and its associated putting green, each of said lines having a plurality of marks spaced along the same and designated for different lengths of drive of a ball in play in the directions along said lines, the marks on the said divergent lines being connected by convergent direction lines leading to and connecting. certain of the marks of a eater length of drive on the interediate of t e said lines, and chance controlled devices for determinin the character and distance of each,

simulated drive of the ball.

' 3. In a game apparatus, a body having a simulated golf course on one side of the upper surface thereof and having certain of the teeinggrounds and their associated putting greens directly connected by straight directionlines and oppositely disposed divergent direction lines extending from the teeing grounds toward the putting greens for an appreciable length of the distance between each teeing ground and its associated utting green, each of said lines having a p urality of marks spaced along the same and designated for different lengths of drive of a ball in play in the directions along said lines, the

marks on the said divergent linesbeing congreens directly connected by straight direction lines and oppositely disposed divergent direction lines extending from the teeing grounds toward the utting greens for an appreciable length 0 the distance between each teeing ground and its associated putting green, each of said lines having a plurality of marks spaced along the same and designated for different lengths of drive of a ball in play in the directions along said lines, the

marks onthe said divergent lines being con, -c

nected by convergent direction lines leading to and connecting certain othe marks of a greater length of drive on the intermediate of the said lines, and chance-controlled devices, each having indicia associated therewith corresponding to the character of play of certain designated types of golf clubs for determining the character and distance of each simulated drive of the ball.

5. In a game apparatus, a body having a simulated golf course on one side of the upper surface thereof and-having certain of the teeing grounds and their associated putting greens directly connected by straight direction lines and oppositely disposed divergent direction lines extending from the teeing for different lengths of drive of a ball in play in the directions along said lines, the marks on the said divergent lines being connected by convergent direction lines leading to and connecting certain of the marks of a greater iength of drive on the intermediate of said mes,

on the said body adjacent the start of piay side of the simulated golf course, each having indicia associated therewith corresponding to the character of play of certain designated types of golf clubs for determining the character and distance of each simulated drive of the ball.

Signed at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse, and State of Wisconsin, this 11th day of February, 1928.

HERBERT ms'roW.

and chance-controlled devices mounted I 

